Infant shoe

Abstract

An infant shoe that is configured to maintain a foot disposed therein in a plantar flexion position so as to accommodate the motions of a crawling infant. The shoe of the present invention includes an upper portion manufactured from a flexible waterproof material. The upper portion includes an interior volume and further has an opening providing access thereto. Embodiments of the infant shoe of the present invention can include expansion members proximate the opening wherein the expansion members temporarily expand the opening to facilitate insertion of a foot thereinto. The upper portion of the shoe includes a bottom sole member that will engage the surface upon an infant being in a standing position. The present invention further includes an upper sole member secured to the upper portion that is configured to engage the surface when an infant is in a crawling position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An infant shoe configured to accommodate a crawling motion of an infant wherein the infant shoe comprises:
 an upper portion, said upper portion being manufactured from a flexible material, said upper portion having an opening providing access to an interior volume of the infant shoe;   a bottom sole member, said bottom sole member being secured to said upper portion proximate a lower edge thereof, said bottom sole member being manufactured from rubber, said bottom sole member extending from a toe region of the infant shoe to a heel region of the infant shoe;   an upper sole member, said upper sole member being disposed on the upper portion proximate the toe region of the infant shoe, said upper sole member being manufactured from rubber, said upper sole member extending from said toe region towards an ankle region of the infant shoe across a top surface of the upper portion; and   wherein the upper portion is positioned so as to place a foot of an infant utilizing the infant shoe in a plantar flexion position.   
     
     
         2 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said opening of said upper portion has a diameter that is wider that than of a diameter of the infant shoe proximate the ankle region. 
     
     
         3 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 1 , and further including at least one expansion member, said at least one expansion member being integrally formed in said upper portion proximate said opening, said at least one expansion member being manufactured from an elastic material, said at least one expansion member operable to temporarily expand the diameter of the opening for journaling a foot therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 3 , and further including at least one fastening element, said at least one fastening element configured to secure the infant shoe to the foot of an infant. 
     
     
         5 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the upper sole member includes an outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the outer surface of said upper sole member is provided in a form selected from a group consisting of: smooth or textured. 
     
     
         7 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one expansion member is tapered in shape, said at least one expansion member having a width proximate the opening that is greater than a width proximate a lower end of the at least one expansion member distally located from said opening. 
     
     
         8 . The infant shoe configured to accommodate the crawling motion of an infant as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the upper portion is waterproof.